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We suggest that clinicians be aware that neuromuscular toxicity can occur in patients with mild renal dysfunction with combined use of colchicine and pravastatin.

US therapy is safe but use of US in addition to conventional physical therapy programs seems to have no further significant effect in people with knee OA.

Materials and Methods:One hundred twenty individuals ≥65 years of age were included in the study. All subjects were evaluated using a questionnaire form, including items about demographic and clinical information (doctor diagnosed of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and hyperlipidemia). The intensity of pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS), quality of life was assessed by the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the level of depressive symptoms was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results:The mean age of the subjects was 71.53±4.69 years; 88.3% (n=106) were females and 11.7% (n=14) were males. Chronic diseases were present in 80.8% of the subjects (n=97) and hypertension was the most prevalent disease (49.7%). There was a significant negative correlation between quality of life and pain intensity and level of depression. When evaluated according to educational status, significant differences were found between the groups in some quality of life parameters (physical functioning, social functioning, mental health, and bodily pain) and the GDS (p<0.05). When evaluated according to the presence of chronic diseases, significant differences were also found between the groups in physical functioning, social functioning, vitality, and bodily pain subscales of quality of life measures and the GDS (p<0.05). Conclusion:The presence of a chronic disease and low educational status reduce the quality of life and increase the level of depression in the elderly. Quality of life is negatively affected with the level of depression and the pain intensity. Efforts to improve these conditions may contribute to improving the quality of life of elderly individuals.( Turk J Rheumatol 2010; 25: 165-73)

The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic MD on pain, functional capacity, muscle strength, quality of life, and depression in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). A total of 40 inpatient subjects with definite SIS were included in this study. These patients were sequentially randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 20) received therapeutic MD. Group 2 (n = 20) was served as control group and received sham MD. Superficial heat and exercise program were given to both groups. Both of the programs were performed 5 times weekly for 3 weeks. Patients were assessed before treatment (BT), after treatment (AT), and at a 1-month follow-up (F). Outcome measures included visual analogue scale, goniometry, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, shoulder isokinetic muscle testing, handgrip strength, Short Form 36, and Beck Depression Index. The patients with SIS in each group had significant improvements in pain, shoulder ROM, disability, shoulder muscles and grip strength, quality of life, and depression AT and F when compared with their initial status (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups according to all the parameters regarding the change scores between AT-BT test and F-BT test (P > 0.05). A 2,450-MHz MD regimen showed no beneficial effects in patients with SIS, so the superficial heat and exercise program, as it is efficient, may be preferable for the treatment of SIS, alone.

We proposed to assess serum antioxidant vitamins and magnesium (Mg) levels in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) in comparison to healthy controls. Additionally, the association between the serum antioxidant vitamins, magnesium levels, and clinical parameters in FM patients was also investigated. Forty female patients, aged between 30 and 50 years, were diagnosed with FM according to ACR-1990 criteria, and 40 healthy controls were included in the present study. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants, accompanying symptoms, and number of tender points (TP) of the patients were recorded. The intensity of pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The functional status and depression levels were evaluated with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. Serum vitamins A, C, and E and Mg levels were measured. There were no significant differences in the levels of vitamins A, C, and E and Mg between control subjects and patients with fibromyalgia (p > 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant correlations were found between mean levels of serum vitamins A, C, and E, and Mg and number of TP, scores of VAS, FIQ, and BDI in patients with FM (p > 0.05). According to the results of this study, it was asserted that other complex mechanism may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FM without plasma antioxidant vitamins and Mg levels.

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Objectives: This study aims to compare fall history and fear of falling (FOF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls and to evaluate associated factors for fall risk and FOF in patients with RA. Materials and methods: Between March 2016 and July 2016, a total of 120 patients with RA and 60 age-and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. The presence of FOF (Yes/No), fall history, and the number of falls within the past 12 month were questioned. All participants were assessed with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), One-Leg Stand Test (OLST), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Pain Severity and Patient Global Assessment (PGA) by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), disability by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and disease activity by Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) were evaluated in patients with RA. Results: There was no statistically difference between the RA patients and healthy controls in terms of presence of fall history, while the presence of FOF and FES-I scores were significantly higher in the RA patients (p<0.05). In the patient group, the FES-I score was positively correlated with pain VAS, PGA, DAS-28, HAQ, BAI, BDI, and 10MWT and negatively BBS and OLST (p<0.05). The number of falls, HAQ, BBS, and BDI scores were found to be significant independent risk factors affecting variations in the FES-I scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: Fear of falling seems to be an important problem in patients with RA, and patients without fall history may also have FOF. The most important factors associated with FOF were impaired balance, increased disability and depression, and number of falls in RA patients. Strategies for preventing falls, maintaining balance, improving emotional status and against FOF are of utmost importance in patients with RA.